Whippersnap Music and Arts Festival is back in 2026 for its third year at Florida Sands Music Ranch (FSMR). It now includes a Wednesday Preparty and continues with the Thursday to Saturday main festival. Whippersnap has quickly become one of my favorite winter festivals as it’s loaded with jam and funk music that are right in my sweet spot. It brings big-time, world-class music, a fabulous location and a really cozy, intimate setting with some of the coolest people around!
It’s set in a great ranch campground and has two stages of music at alternating times so you never have to miss a beat. On top of that, the main stage is under a pole barn, so you’ll be shielded from the sun during the day and any potential rain at night. The sound is great, there’s plenty of room to dance or sit, whatever your pleasure, and there are ample vendors to help you take home some memories. On top of it all, the campsites are just a short walk from the stages!
This year’s schedule has just been released, and I’m excited to see some familiar bands as well as new ones and special sit-ins from the artists at large. Here’s a quick rundown of the Wednesday and Thursday lineups, and look for the next post with the follow-up on Friday and Saturday. Mark your calendars for February 18-21, 2026!
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Thursday Pre-Party
Eddie Roberts and the Lucky Strokes represent a rugged departure for the veteran New Mastersounds guitarist, shifting from urbane jazz-funk toward a gritty fusion of Southern rock and deep-pocket soul. The band features the Mississippi-bred gritty, bluesy vocals of Shelby Kemp and the Florida-based Galbraith sisters on bass and drums. Their self-titled debut, which received 2024 Grammy consideration for Best Contemporary Blues Album, showcases a sound described as an amalgamation of classic country lyricism and James Brown-inspired rhythm. On the festival stage, the band is known for high-energy sets that emphasize “straightforward, in-your-face” blues-based rock. I’ve caught them a few times starting with Hulaween 2023 and most recently at Amp Jam earlier this year. Their performances blend Roberts’ signature boogaloo guitar artistry with Kemp’s soulful, raspy delivery and three-part vocal harmonies. Audiences can expect a driving, “red clay” groove characterized by searing originals like “Whiskey Makes Me Stronger” and “Holy Fire,” along with heavy soul and R&B covers.
risKay will open the fest with her DJ set. Her sound lives somewhere between a 1960s paisley couch and the floorboard of a 2010 Escalade.. slightly silly, a bit nostalgic, and just the right amount of funk. Every set is a musical ride through college basement parties, jammin’ to Dads vinyl collection back in the day, and the kind of dance floor that’s a lil nitty, a lil gritty, and alotta litty.
Friday
Spafford has solidified its status as a powerhouse in the contemporary jam scene through relentless touring and a commitment to “electro-funk-therapy” since forming in Arizona in 2009. From their humble beginnings, the band has risen to headline major venues and to supporting giants like Umphrey’s McGee. In early 2025, the group entered a new era following the departure of founding bassist Jordan Fairless, with the current lineup of Brian Moss (guitar), Shon Gordon (bass), Nick Tkachyk (drums), and Cory Schechtman (keys) continuing their prolific output of live albums, including the 2025 release Live, Vol. 5.
Spafford is renowned for “off-the-cuff” extended jams that frequently push single songs past the 20-minute mark. Their performances are sensory expeditions, blending 90s alternative rock, Steely Dan-inspired precision, and techno-infused grooves into a seamless, improvisational tapestry. Whippersnap attendees will see Brian Moss’s soaring guitar peaks are anchored by heavy, pocket-focused rhythms.
Dizgo, has grown from Indiana roots to become a premier name in the “jamtronica” scene, characterized by a genre-defying fusion of disco-funk, psychedelic rock, and soul. Founded by childhood friends Andrew Pickel and Kevin Hinnefeld, the quartet has built a formidable reputation through relentless touring and high-profile support slots for acts like George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and Goose. Their career hit a significant milestone in late 2024 with the release of their studio album Melt, which has since propelled them into an ambitious “Outer Space Tour” spanning much of 2025 and 2026.
Dizgo sets are immersive “future-funk odysseys” that emphasize high-energy dance licks and intricate, long-form improvisation. Their performances are marked by the interplay between Pickel’s searing guitar leads and Jake Evatt’s analog synths, anchored by a “beast-like” rhythm section. The band can shift from heavy metal breakdowns to buttery funk grooves or spacey psychedelic covers.
Joe Marcinek has carved a unique niche in the jam scene by operating as the “quarterback” of an ever-evolving musical collective rather than a static group. Known for a career-long commitment to the “supergroup” format, Marcinek rotates a world-class cast of collaborators—including legends like Melvin Seals, George Porter Jr., and Kofi Baker—to ensure no two performances are ever the same. His prolific 2025 output, highlighted by the release of The Groove Session and a grueling schedule of over 280 shows, solidifies his reputation as a tireless troubadour of improvisational jazz-funk and blues.
The Joe Marcinek Band delivers an “electrifying” experience that fuses New Orleans funk, Chicago blues, and Grateful Dead-inspired psychedelia. These sets often feature his “Dead Funk Summit” concept, where heavy, pocket-focused grooves meet soaring melodic peaks and cerebral improvisation. Look for spontaneous onstage chemistry and virtuosic interplay, transforming each the set into a unique, one-time-only musical event.
TruPhonic has rapidly emerged from Florida’s Space Coast to become a cornerstone of the Southeast’s live music circuit, blending funk, jam-rock, soul, and hip-hop into a seamless “boundless” sound. Led by multi-instrumentalist Jake Salter, the ensemble has transitioned from grassroots beginnings in 2017 to headlining major regional stages, supported by studio releases like the 2022 album Jambiguous. The band entered 2025 with significant momentum, following high-profile appearances at Suwannee Hulaween and an extensive “2025 Kickoff Tour” that highlights their growth from local favorites to a premier touring act.
TruPhonic will deliver a high-octane, “straight-from-the-heart” set with funky grooves and great audience interaction. They have a tight rhythm section, virtuosic horn layers from dual saxophonists, and lush three-part vocal harmonies. Whippersnappers will love pivots from heavy funk-rock originals like “I’m Choosin’ Me” to eclectic covers like Lettuce’s “Breakout.”
Sauce Pocket was formed in 2021, and has rapidly evolved into a leading instrumental “psychedelic space funk” ensemble. I’ve been fortunate to catch them several times including at Suwannee Hulaween and Resonate Suwannee. On the festival stage, the band delivers “blistering” performances that seamlessly weave together funk, Latin jazz, soul, and hip-hop through sweeping improvisational movements and heavy-hitting originals.
Early Thursday acts include Road to Nowhere a Talking Heads tribute band, and the The Low Heavies, a classic soul/funk band. Also, the three-time Whippersnap Festival perfomer, Sooza, a personal favorite of mine and a fine brass band will perform a set as well as having the horn section as Artists at Large.